Jenn Dugan
Founder and Owner, The Makeup Curio
The Makeup Curio is a makeup and skincare studio offering facials, waxing, and makeup. Makeup services include options for brides and special occasions.
I’ve been putting gloves on for an entire facial since the beginning of the winter.
Even before all this, I already had a stockpile of Clorox wipes and rubbing alcohol and cleaning supplies and paper towels at my studio, because I do that regularly. I clean between every client. I was my hands in front of every client. I’ve been putting gloves on for an entire facial since the beginning of the winter.
And because of that, my original thought was that “Oh, my regular clients will continue to come because they know that I offer safe, best practices. And I didn’t really have any cancellations.
If everybody puts life on hold for two, three weeks, maybe four, then we can flatten the curve
But seeing how it extreme it is now, and understanding that I do have a client that is a doctor and she is saying that everyone just needs to be staying home. If everybody puts life on hold for two, three weeks, maybe four, then we can flatten the curve, and the spread of coronavirus can diminish, and then we can get back to life sooner.
So I made the decision to cancel all in-person appointments, but my pivot is offering online makeup courses.
…it’s not like I’m going to get the same amount of income, but at least it is something
I mean, it’s not like I’m going to get the same amount of income, but at least it is something. It can still keep me relevant because this is something I can offer after life goes back to normal – this is still something I can offer.
So I started calling a couple of people to cancel before I got on the call with you, I sent a mass email last night. I posted on social media this morning. The people I have spoken with completely understand. And they’re already willing to prepay. A client I spoke to offered to pay right now.
I was expecting not to get paid this month
So I was expecting not to get paid this month because I won’t be doing the service until next month. But its really nice to get the feedback though, too, in that “no, I still want my appointment, I still want this, and I understand that this can’t happen right away.” I think people are finally recognizing the severity of it.
It’s still important to produce content, be active on my business, and not get into a depressive state
I’ve been creating blog posts, and so that was another thing to do to continue to be relevant. It’s still important to produce content, be active on my business, and not get into a depressive state and not do anything.
I already teach makeup classes individually. I just needed a camera now and a platform to do it [on]. And I have that. I looked into it before I officially announced and posted the classes. People have been wanting to take them anyway. I had someone message me today that “Oh, I just saw your post. I really want to take a smokey eye class with you, I’ve been wanting to. I think your price is really reasonable.”
Yes, you can get free videos on YouTube, but my client says, “you’re a professional.” And people want to support small businesses right now.
And it’s not just a video. I’m not having clients pay for a video, if that was the case, I would do it for free. What I’m asking clients to pay for is my time and my feedback. So that’s the difference. Coz, you know, online classes or webinars are two-way communication. Not just one way.
…people are looking forward to June and hoping…
I got an email from an event that has been moved to June, that I was hired for, that had been postponed. And that was big for me. I had a big event in April that got canceled. I had a big event in May that got canceled. But knowing people are looking forward to June and hoping that COVID-19 is gone, and saying yes, we’re still going to host this, was huge for my mental state.